Moishe the Beadle tried to warn the Jews of Sighet of the coming disaster. When he escaped and returned to Sighet after being deported, he "went from one Jewish house to the next, telling his story." He explained to Elie, "I no longer care to live. I am alone. But I wanted to come back to warn you."

The Jews of Sighet also refused to believe or speak out against the reports of agression by the Germans. As the Germans fought on the Russian Front, as they conquered country after country in western Europe, the Jews continued to persuade themselves that there was no danger to themselves. "we even doubted his resolve to exterminate us. Annihilate an entire people?"

Even after the invasion of Hungary, the Jews of Sighet did not cry out against what the Germans were doing. "Optimism soon revived: The Germans will not come this far. They will stay in Budapest. For strategic reasons, for political reasons..."

The leaders of the Jewish community could have spoken out against the German aggressions at any of these points. Doing so may not have changed the ultimate course of events, but voicing their opposition might have rallied support to their cause from others.